Top Marathoners Will Open 2009 in Dubai with a Bang







By Bidz Dela Cruz


 


Running enthusiasts from the world over have been excited as  the announcement that Haile Gebrselassie will make an attempt on his own world record time in the emirate has ignited them to sign up for the 2009 Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon (according to the Press).


Registration via online is continually surging up as competitors sign up for the full marathon, the much talked about 10km event and the 3km Fun Run scheduled for January 16, 2009.


Eager participants can only register online or visit any branch of Fitness First in Dubai. Details of all branches of Fitness First will be found at www.fitnessfirst.ae.


This year’s Dubai Marathon saw Ethiopian legend Gebrselassie set the then second fastest marathon time in history and narrowly miss out on a record $1 million bonus, held under the patronage of His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE, Ruler of Dubai, and staged under the aegis of the Dubai Sports Council.


Gebrselassie has just recently set a new world best of 2h:03m:59s in Berlin last month. Now, he has already confirmed he will have another attempt at landing the biggest prize in athletics in January, a move that is already encouraging even more amateur names to sign up for the upcoming marathon.


When interviewed, Event Director Peter Connerton said, “The 2008 event was the best in the history of the Dubai Marathon and we are looking forward to a record turnout in 2009.”


“Thanks to the support of title sponsors Standard Chartered as well as our other supporters such as Dubai Holding, who are again offering US$1 million for a new world record, and the regular appearance of athletes such as Haile, Dubai is now well established as a leading marathon venue in world athletics.”  Despite registration opening three months before the start gun, Ahmed Al Kamali, Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon General Co-ordinator, President of the UAE Athletics Federation and Al Ahli Club Board Member, urged UAE runners not to be slow in signing up for the event. “We will close registrations on December 15 around one month before the race in order to finalise numbers and ensure we have all the necessary logistics in place to handle the exact number of runners,” he added.


While organizers are busy assembling a powerful field for next year’s marathon, event sponsors Standard Chartered are encouraging the UAE public to start training for all three race events.


Shayne Nelson (Standard Chartered Regional CEO, Middle East and North Africa) have this to say: “Standard Chartered has been the title sponsor of the Dubai Marathon for the last four years and we are excited about our fifth year as sponsors in 2009. The Dubai marathon has grown into an international success story that reaches out to every member in our local UAE community.”


“The Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon, the 10km race and the 3km ‘Seeing is Believing’ Fun Run are great ways to get fit as well as raise money and awareness for local and international charities. For us, the marathon is a key component of the Bank’s community strategy as we help to raise awareness about the rise of diabetes in the region, and how we can effectively combat this illness through regular exercise. Those who take the challenge to participate in any one of the runs have the potential to make a significant difference. I look forward to welcoming thousands of athletes of all ages, nationalities and abilities to the starting line on January 16 next year, he further said”